James Armistead Lafayette - African American Trailblazers

[@TheHealerIzAwesome]

I learned about James at the International Spy Museum in DC. I was so angry that I never learned about him in my American history classes when I was younger. He was such a genius and an amazing individual!! I work as a janitor and, while I am in no way comparing it to having to live as a slave or servant, I've noticed that it's incredible what people will talk about around those who they think don't understand. His story is so incredible and I wish he was taught about more in schools.

[@davidrox4591]

Wait until you hear about Lafayette's friend... the giant. (Peter Francisco if you haven't heard his story before.) Now I'm going to have to dig for more info on James Armistead Lafayette. Awesome stuff. (Lafayette was an early proponent of abolition & hidden heroes make me want to dig deeper into history. Was Lafayette always so committed to abolition, or was this an evolution of ideals that resulted from contact with brave young men like James?) ✌

[@PierrotHG]

Too bad they didn't mention the beautiful conclusion of the story. In 1824, more than 40 years after the battle of Yorktown, Lafayette returned to America for a triumphal tour of the United States. During a parade in Virginia he recognized a face in the crowd: it was his former spy, James Armistead Lafayette, now a free man. In tears, the two old men embraced each other while the slave owners of the city looked on.

[@Saturnstales]

I have more respect for Marquis de Lafayette then any of the other founding fathers, he saw James as a comrade in arms I heard

[@jamesalafayette8255]

Please spread this wide and far ✊🏾

[@Dr.Momodu]

James Armistead Lafayette is a person that they don't teach alot in schools.

[@ronaldlaury5370]

Samuel Momodu I didn't know anything about this brother.Any more hidden black legends

[@anthonyehooker]

Salem Poor Poor fought in the Battle of Bunker Hill in Colonel Frye’s Regiment and is credited with shooting British Lt. Col. James Abercrombie. He conducted himself so well during the battle, that no less that 14 officers, including Colonel William Prescott himself, petitioned the legislature of Massachusetts declaring that Poor had behaved like an experienced officer and brave soldier and “a reward was due to so great and distinguished a character.” Of all the men who served in the battle, Poor was the only one singled out for such an honor. What he did specifically to earn such praise is unknown, as the petition states, “to set forth the particulars of his conduct would be tedious.” Some historians think this indicates that Poor’s acts of bravery were too numerous to lay out.

[@anthonyehooker]

Look into the Rhode Island First Regiment. During the harsh winter at Valley Forge, a new regiment was created, the Rhode Island First. They were an all black regiment of 125 men, some free and some enslaved. There first engagement was at the Battle of Newport in 1778. At that battle, the Continental Army was forced to retreat. The Rhode Island First put itself between the retreating Americans and the British. They were able to hold the line against no less thant three British attacks. In these, the British suffered heavy casualties. There bravery saved lives and led to the transfer of a Hessian officer. After the battle the officer requested this transfer because he feared for his life. He thought his own men would kill him because of the heavy losses they took.

[@kristynjohnson7072]

You're right...not even in the social studies book I use with my seventh graders. That's why I make a big deal of him in my class.

[@richardrobertson1886]

The progressives in the early 20th century stripped out the black heroes of the revolutionary period. They used to be taught in public schools. Go find books from the north from the 1800s.

[@threescoreandten]

Thank you so much! This is wonderful. I love the tale of James Armistead, and now I can share this video with my students in Spain to spread knowledge of his accomplishments. :-)

[@MaxyBoy-x9u]

That's why we created it! It was used for several years in elementary schools in Virginia. Look up African American Trailblazers and you can see more of these. (Eric Futterman-Producer)

[@Steve42359]

Thanks. I will be using this in my 8th Grade History class. Great Information.

[@tiphaineluccy3795]

Thanks. :D

[@xandravaughn7020]

super excited to teach my kid about how African Americans contributed to the Revolutionary War!

[@richkline1786]

Imagine how much longer the war would have lasted without fantastic men like him and Lafayette... James Armistead and Marquis de Lafayette will always be discussed and appreciated in my social studies classroom.

[@blessingbrother]

What a great story! Thanks for sharing the knowledge

[@dolltall]

Beautiful History

[@032319581]

Disgraceful that Washington knew of the importance of James and did nothing to prevent him from being put back into slavery! Thank goodness for the Marquis!

[@Kakashi_sempai2491]

Washington was a slave owner himself he probably had different point of views on slavery

[@Trini-ck4mc]

Washington owned around 400 slaves, one of the biggest slave owners in USA. The Marquis asked him to free them and set the example, but Washington refused. He only freed them after his wife death

[@anwjuice]

I knew about him as a kid. I thank my parents for making us read

[@jocelynechretien4421]

So the truth be told ..thank you

[@Kivikesku]

James and the Marquis were both cunning and capable men, the kind who overdeliver. Such people recognize tend to recognize each other, and tend to bypass race and social status. No time to get stuck with such things when you have something important to do.

[@thejkr77]

Thank you for this video. Been looking for a video I could use to tie in Black Revolutionary Patriots with my concluding lecture regarding the American Revolution

[@darkconversationist]

thank you brother!!!!!

[@ladybug2367]

He is a hero.

[@deanambrose2542]

I'm using this for my 7th grade test lol:D

[@modernvictorian1174]

“His enemies destroyed his rep, America forgot him..” This lyric taken from the first song (Alexander Hamilton) from the musical Hamilton. I disagree with this line. Hamilton is on the $10 bill. He is mentioned in history classes. James Armistead became friends with the Marquis de Lafayette, who features in the aforementioned musical, but James (later James Armistead Lafayette) goes relatively unsung. Not bashing Hercules Mulligan, but James seems like he would have been the better choice for the musical. Or maybe they could have included both. It seems a pity to have excluded James either way.

[@RapOperaCentral]

Great comment! James Armistead needs more attention and definitely should have at least had a cameo in Hamilton. We teach about him using theater and music. kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5jFnoB9i6Z8d6c

[@Amy-f6k2v]

Yeah but the musical is in a "Hamilton" point of view and well Hercules was a close friend of hamilton while James is someone who Hamilton doesn't really know but you have a good point

[@priscillachapkylo934]

Way go James Armistead Laffaytte no mater skin color all men created heroes.

[@biancaparada1614]

This documentary is really good it help a lot with my project

[@deangelo8498]

Can we teach this in all schools and end racism, bigotry, and hate that keeps us divided?

[@bigbear197708]

thanx my brother

[@032319581]

We need to know about Peter Salem, Salem Poor and many others of non English ancestory that were instrumental in this countries independence.

[@maulkelly2446]

Happy birthday James

[@amiraly4605]

Maul Kelly2 thanks

[@stephenmcdonald664]

In reality the vast majority of slaves joined the British forces after Lord Dunmore promised freedom from slavery. Thousands served in Loyalist regiments and later migrated to other British colonies after hostilities. The American oligarchy that formed the US would never give them their freedom and they knew it. So they joined the British. That's the reality.

[@moisepicard3417]

By having the most incredible power back you up in your big step to revolution.

[@cleetx3546]

It is absolutely pathetic how little we are taught in school. My maiden name is Armistead and I didn't even know about this man until recently

[@JosephThomas-gi8ow]

Yes, he is a hero but they don’t want anybody to know about it because he’s black and he had that much to do in history of this country

[@germainejohnson7296]

the sad part is the British ended slavery he helped win a war that kept his people slaves irony

[@jayquan17ify]

What?

[@germainejohnson7296]

+Jayquan Phifer he helped beat the British but the British ended slavery before America dude hence he helped keep his people slaves longer

[@jayquan17ify]

I haven't heard anything about britain ending slavery

[@General-fw7gq]

Yeah that true. British ask the slaves to help win the war for exchange for their freedom.

[@roybabineaux5353]

@@germainejohnson7296 the British didn't end slavery until 1833 the revolutionary war was fought in the late 1700's.

[@kaitlynw1610]

soooo helpful!!!!!!!!!!:D

[@The901meister]

The Marquis de La Fayette is a title not the name of the man. His name was Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier and he was a close friend of my Great Great Grandfather.

[@Amy-f6k2v]

Hey what about Hamilton!

[@ttaylor705]

Should I be mad or upset at this?

[@JosephThomas-gi8ow]

But but it’s not often talked about in American history. He was very vital in winning the revolutionary war, but they never want to give him credit

[@joshw649]

Can someone plz get Morgan Freeman to do a movie about htis great man..... PLZ PLZ PLZ

[@anwjuice]

He a founding father imo

[@VLorenzoStone]

There was a spy in the British army, and his name was James...

[@chadtep7571]

Sellout. Shout out to Colonel Tye.

[@General-fw7gq]

Yeah I read about this....james was kinda selfish he helped the white Americans win the war and from there he ask for his own freedom. Had he fought for the British army maybe WE could've been free along time ago. I dont think I can honor this man.